Cary Clack: Grandma, 91, and her gang get justice

Updated 8:34 am, Sunday, June 26, 2011

As Wednesday afternoon dragged to a close, the group of men and women known for their late-night activities and clean getaways from Bexar County's justice were still on the lam.

But late in the day, the trap to nab them had been sprung, and they were led into Judge Barbara Nellermoe's 45th District courtroom in the Bexar County Courthouse. Each of them was intimately familiar with the courthouse, having all done time there for up to 20 years or more.

Still not in custody was their ringleader, who'd been given the curious nickname of “Grandma.” But about 10 minutes after 4 p.m. she appeared in court, and Judge Nellermoe proceeded to serve a sweet measure of justice to Grandma and her gang in the form of cake and lemonade.

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Grandma is Eliza Salazar, who at the age of 91 still works as one of the custodians responsible for cleaning up the courthouse. Nellermoe wanted to thank all of them but gave special recognition to Salazar, whose story she learned a few months ago while talking to her one evening.

“We need to stop and thank the people who clean up after us,” Nellermoe said. “They're an invisible workforce at the courthouse.”

In a brief ceremony, she told Salazar how much she was appreciated and presented her with a certificate from County Commissioner Tommy Adkisson.

“I love my job,” said Salazar as she accepted the certificate.

In her earlier days, she'd worked 23 years for Sol Frank Uniforms before quitting so she could care for her husband, Richard, who was stricken with diabetes. Their only child had died in 1986, and Richard died in 1989.

“I used to go to the cemetery every day,” says Salazar, petite and white-haired and looking younger than her age. “My grandson told me I should get a job, but I asked who was going to hire me at my age.”

The courthouse did.

Salazar works the 5-to-9 p.m. shift five days a week, driving herself to work.

“I've hardly ever missed a day, and I've never been late,” she says. “I get to talk to judges, lawyers and all the people.”

She was surprised at the recognition she received.

“I didn't expect this. I'm surprised,” she said. “They told me to go to a meeting that was mandatory. I thought I was in trouble.”

She told Nellermoe, “I appreciate it from the bottom of my heart.”

“You're never without a smile,” Nellermoe said.

“I'm always like that,” Salazar said.

As the other custodians sat in the courtroom waiting for their 5 p.m. shift to begin, Nellermoe noticed that they were saving their slices of cake for their break and made arrangements to see that the rest of the cake would be available for them during the night.

More than once, Salazar said that she loves her job, which is a blessing since it's a job that she needs to survive financially.

“I've never been on food stamps or anything,” she says. “I've worked all my life. I know there's going to come a time when I have to quit, but I have no plans to retire.”

For everyone else in the working world, Salazar offers this advice: “Love your job, love what you do and do the best you can.”